Multiple switch



J. C. KOCI MULTIPLE SWITCH Dec. 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 2, 1946 Dec. 5, 1950 J. c. Kocx 2,532,627

MULTIPLE SWITCH Filed Oct. 2, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 nz/endff fer/jy C. jzfocz y 'RM il mw J. C. KOCl MULTIPLE SWITCH Dec. 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 2, 1946 23722677 zor Jerry C. jzfocz y RM Jl im fa/v2@ Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT FFCE MULTIPLE SWITCH Jerry C. Kooi, Riverside, 111..,Uassignor, by mesne assignments, to Chicago Coin Machine Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application October 2, 1946, Serial No. 700,756

i 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an electrical apparatus and particularly to a stepping-relay system. Stepping-relay systems are used in a wide variety of devices, such as in telephone work, signalling systems and scoring systems for various games. The invention provides an improved stepping-relay system wherein one stepping-relay may have a greatly increased range of travel.

A system embodying the invention finds utility in score-indicating means and multiplies the normalrange of score indicating systems to any desired expanded range. When incorporated in signalling or communication systems, the steppingrelay System embodying the present invention extends the operation range therefor.

Stepping-relay systems using a ratchet wheel are well known. The angular extent of travel oi the ratchet wheel has. generally been something less than 360 degrees, Within this angular range, it has been necessary to dispose all the contacts to be controlled over the operating range of the relay. Where a large number of contacts are to be disposed, substantial dirhculties arise. Thus, the contact-carrying member becomes iarge and bulky in order to provide the physical spacing between adjacent contacts angularly disposed around the member. In addition, the ratchet or step-by-step mechanism is generally designed to reduce the'angular extent of each step taken by the relay.

By virtue of the invention hereinafter disclosed, it is possible to provide a construction having substantial manufacturing tolerances and free of delicate construction incident to small angular steps. In addition thereto, the construction embvd'yine the. present invention may be designed G0 have an Operating range having a substantially greater extem-I than what has hitherto been Considered pQSSiblVe- In general, the invention provides a construction whereby a ratchet wheel may be stepped in either direction and cooperates with a suitable intermittent movement so that its angular range of operation is Vextended beyond 360 degrees. In one specific embodiment, the range is increased to almost two complete revolutions. However, modications maybe made whereby additional increments of 360 degrees may be added.

The ratchet Wheel cooperates with switching means s o that suitable indications corresponding to the position of the ratchet wheel are available.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, an exemplary embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying Adrawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a relay system embodying the present invention. Y

Figure` 2 is a sectional elevation along line A2 2 of Figure l with the relay advanced to an end position.

Figure 3 is a detail similar to Figure 2 but showing the relay system at the normal zero position.

Figure 4 is a View of the contact-carrying portion of the relay and a diagrammatic showing of the circuits in a game control apparatus with which the relay system may be used.

Figure 5 is a modification of the intermittent movement for expanding the operating range 'of a relay system.

The stepping-relay system comprises base I or sheel metal or any other suitable material upon which the entire mechanism is supported. V*Base I@ has upstanding portion I l in which is secured rod lg. Rod I2 has part I3 of reduced diameter functioning as a pin. Part i3 at the end thereof has sleeve ld bolted thereto by means of bolts Y Sleeve i4 carries insulating member I8 of Bakelite or other rigid insulating material. Insulating member I8. is adapted to carry a series of contacts to be described in detail later.

Cooperating with the contacts on insulating member Si. are wipers 2d and 2 I, said wipers being carried by supporting member 22. Supporting member Z has the interior cut out at 23 to provide a generally annular shape. Annular member 22 is rigidly Supported in any suitable fashion, such asby arms 25 and E 'tending from ratchet wheel se. Ratchet wheel s has teeth as shown and is rotatable about rod portion I3 and is biased by coil spring 3l having one end rigidly anchored at 32 to ratchet Wheel 3Q and the other end rigidly anchored at 33 to any suitable stationary member such as insulating disc i8.

Means are provided for returning ratchet Wheel 3G back to its normal position and for advancing the ratchet wheel away from a normal position in suitable steps. 'ihe ratchet return means includev solenoid having armature plunger 3'! normally disposed in the position shown in Figure 2 but adapted to be attracted into the interior or" the solenoid upon energization of the solenoid winding. Plunger Sl has rod 33 threaded through a suitable aperture therein, which rod links with end lill of lever il piyoted at 42 to plate I I. Lever il has end lili extending through a cut-out in plate Il. Lever 4I has part 43 to which is pivotally secured lever 45. Lever 45Ahas spring '46 biasing the same,A this spring extending between the lever and a suitable pin on plate I I.

Stop 41, having adjusting screws 48, is carried on plate Il and serves to limit the travel of lever 45 in response to spring d6. Lever 4| has arm 9 extending from portion 43. Pivotally mounted at 5U on plate I is pawl 5| having detent arm 52 disposed adjacent the teeth of `ratchet wheel 39. Pawl 5| is biased toward lever 4i by spring 53 disposed between the two.

For advancing the ratchet wheel, solenoid 56 is provided. Solenoid 56 has armature 51 normally in the position shown in the ligure but adapted to be attracted within the solenoid when energized. Armature plunger 51 is apertured at 58 and has finger 69 extending therethrough. Finger 6|! is carried by arm B2 pivotally mounted upon reduced portion 64 of sleeve l2.

Plunger 51 is biased to the position shown in the drawing by spring 55 extending between a suitable pin on base Hl and the free end of finger |50. Stop pins 61 and S8, carried by plate ll, limit the swing of arm 52 and thus limit the travel of plunger 51. Pivotally mounted upon arm 52 is pawl 19 having tooth-engaging portion 1| disposed in proximity to the free end of lever 45. A suitable aperture 12 in plate Il permits end 1I of pawl 1o to pass through from one side to the other of plate |I. Detent 15, pivoted at 16 on plate is also provided, this detent having its free end adapted to engage the teeth of ratchet member 39. Coil spring 11, extending between a `pin on plate and an ear on detent 15, biases the detent into tooth-engaging position.

The operation of the relay will now be described. Spring 3| is wound so that wheel 30 will be biased toward some position. In order to Yreturn ratchet wheel 3B toward a free unbiased position, this being in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 2, solenoid 36 must be energized. This causes plunger 31 to move to the left within the solenoid and pull end 49 of lever 4I to the left. Pulling end 49 of lever 4| also increases the tension of nawl 5| on the teeth. However, it will be noted that, in the normal rest position, toothengaging part 52 rests on the outermost tip of a tooth. Thus, pawl 5| will permit ratchet wheel 30 to return one tooth clockwise but will catch the same after such advance.

The movement of end 49 of lever 4| to the left results in the movement of end 4.3 of the lever to the right. This movement pulls lever 45 upwardly and to the right so that the free end thereof is out of the way of the free end of pawl 10. At the same time, arm 49 moves downwardly and pushes detent free of the ratchet teeth.

Detents 5l and 15 are arranged so that one of them always engages the teeth of ratchet 30 so that positive locking will occur.

Upon deenergization of solenoid 35, springs 53 and 11 return the various elements to the position shown in the drawing.

In order to advance the movement of ratchet wheel 39; i. e. to wind up spring 3l more, solenoid 5B must be energized. Upon energization of this solenoid, plunger 51 is moved toward the left. Pawl 1o is thereupon moved along the sloping side of a tooth tip and then beyond to the next tooth, this being in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 2. By controlling the spacing be tween stop pins Gland @8, it is possible to have one movement of plunger 51 move ratchet wheel 3|) through anangle corresponding to one, two

or more ratchet teeth. Upon the release of the solenoid, spring 55 returnsarm G2 tothe position shown in the figure, the spring return being sufciently strong so that pawl 1| engaging a ratchet tooth will cause ratchet wheel 39 to be turned in an anti-clockwise direction as seen in Figure 2.

It is understood that the position of ratchet wheel 3S, when the wipers are in a zero position, is such that spring 3| is still wound up. In order to quickly return the ratchet wheel and the contacts back toward this initial position corresponding to a zero contact setting, solenoid 18 having plunger 19 is provided. Plunger 19 is coupled through wire loop 19 to lever 52. Upon the simultaneous energization of solenoid 35 and 18, ratchet wheel 39 will be returned by coil spring 3| to its extreme clockwise position, as seen in Figure 2.

Under normal conditions, the return or clockwise movement of ratchet 39 due to solenoid 35 can only occur after ratchet 35 has been advanced from its normal zero position.

In order to control the angular travel range of ratchet wheel 39, the means shown may be provided. This means comprises lever Sl pivoted at 8| on plate Lever 99 has two .prongs 82 and 83 extending generally toward the center of plate H and tail piece 84 extending away from plate i i. The pivot is close to prongs 82 and 83. Lever 89 is swingable between two positions determined by stop pins 89 and 81 carried on plate and cooperating with the'lever sides. Tail piece 84 cooperates with S-shaped end 9o of movable contact blade 9|. Movable contact blade 9| cooperates with relatively nxed contact blade 92, both supported from bracket 93 on plate li. As will be evident from the drawing, S-shaped end 95 of spring blade 9| tends to. move lever 84 to either one of two end positions. Prongs 82 and 83 are adapted to cooperate with pin 96 carried on ratchet wheel 39. Pin 95 is of such a size and so related to the shape of prongs 82 and 83 that a movement of ratchet wheel 3D through one tooth is required to swing lever 99 from one extreme position to the other extreme position.

In the position shown in Figure 2, pin 96 prevents any counter-clockwise movement of ratchet wheel 36. The position shown is the extreme counter-clockwise position of the ratchet wheel. Assuming that ratchet wheel 3!! is turned almost 360 degrees in a clockwise direction, pin 95 will thereupon clear left prong 82 and engage right prong 83. Rotation of ratchet wheel 39 will cause lever 8|! to be forced over to its other position and maintain the switch closed. On the second turn of ratchet 39 in a clockwise direction, pin 96 will be stopped by prong 92. Thus, ratchet wheel 30 will have a range of 720 degrees less the angle between the two end positions of pin 96. In practice, this angle to be subtracted maybe made quite small.

Referring now to Figure 4, a circuit diagram of the electrical connections for a counting system embodying the present invention is shown. Annular disc 22 carries wiper 2!) which, at all times, contacts annular ring |99. Disc22 also carries wiper 2| electrically connected by wire ID! to wiper 29. Wiper 2| is adapted to cooperate with two series of contacts |95 and |95 respectively. Contacts E05 may be used in connection with the lowest numbering steps, such as units in an ordinary decimal system. Thus, as is clearly evident, contacts |95 are spaced at equal angular intervals in groups of nine and are separated from an adjacent series of contacts by spaces 51. Each contact |96 extends over an angular range corresponding to one group of contacts |95 plus one adjacent space |01.

Contacts |05 are connected in a circuitto illuminate or otherwise energizeindicating means for showing* units one to. nine inclusive. Contacts 06 are. connected to illuminate or energizer indicating means for showingtens- In practice, if a number such as seventeen is tobe indicated, the indication corresponding to number ten willmerely show a one in thev ten place, and the in dication for the unit will only show a seven.

As indicated in this figure, disc I8 carries enough contacts sothat indications from z ero up to and including; ninety-nine may be shown. When wiper 2| reaches the position corresponde ing to one hundred, as shown in the drawing, switch contacts 9| and 92 will be closed, thus closing the circuit for indicatingmeans `showing numeral one hundred. Thereafter, wiper 2| may continue to a position corresponding to one hundred ninety-nine.

It is understood that adjacent contactsv may be in any desired numerical steps. Thus, in many coin-controlled machines, each movement of Wiper 2| from one contact to another may involve a.v change in scoring of ten, one hundred, or any other number. In such coin-controlled machines, it is necessary to provide means for resetting the scoring means to Zero at the beginning of a game. It is also frequently desirable to provide for a free game in the event that the player scores a predetermined amount. The scoring system embodying the present invention may be adapted for such use as shown in the drawing.

Thus, |09 may indicate a suitable coin-controlled means. For simplicity, it is shown as a knob. Coin-controlled means |09 has coin response switch H0 and movable contacts I and H2 connected together. Movable contact HI cooperates with xed contact H3, while movable contact H2 cooperates with xed contact H4. The remaining contacts shown for cooperation with movable contact |I2 are dea-d and merely indicate the extent of travel of the movable contacts. As indicated, coin-controlled means |09 is adapted to go from the position shown, which is a normal open position, through a position where movable contact H2 touches contact H4 over toward the extreme right position. Movable contact I I I bears on contact H3 and is maintained in that position for the duration of a game. Suitable timing means may be provided for opening the coin-controlled switches after a predetermined time interval. Inasrouch as coin-controlled switches and means are well known, a detailed description thereof is deemed to be unnecessary.

Contact I I3 is connected by wire H5 to leaf SI and also to contact ring |05. Lamp lili? has leads H8 and H9 going to the winding of relay |25. Relay |29 has movable contact |2I connected by wire |22 to wire I I 6. Movable contact I2 I cooperates with fixed contact |23, this being connected by wire I to fixed contact |25 of relay |25. Relay |25 may be inserted in the circuit of one or more of the indicating` means. As shown in the figure, relay |25 is in the circuit for indicating sixty. It is evident that relay 26 may be inserted in any other indicating circuit and, in fact, may be inserted in several indicating circuits simultaneously. Thus, relay |26 may be on the ground side of the indicating means for sixty and higher numbers.

Relay |25 has iixed contact |35 connected to the winding of free play relay |3I. Relay I 3| has movable contact |32 connected to wire |22 and has xed contact 53e connected to line |35, this being the main energizing line for the entire system. Ground |35 will be the other side of the main energizing system. In practice, |35 and |36 will be in a low voltage, secondary circuit. Line I 35 is connected through coin-responsive switch HS to movable contacts H and H2. Contact H4 is connected through solenoids 36 and I8 to ground.

The operation of the system shown in Figure 4 is as follows. Assuming that coin-controlled means |65 is in the position shown, upon the insertion of a coin, switch IIO is closed and means |55 may be turned. During the turning movement, contact |I2 will close the circuit to contact I It through relays 36 and 18. This will release ratchet wheel 30 and permit the same to return in response to the bias of spring 3| to the position shown in Figure 3. This correspends to the position shown in Figure 4, as far as Wiper 2| is concerned, vith the exception that contact leads SI and 92 are open. Further movement of coin-controlled means |56 will move Contact H2 to a dead position while keepinfr contact III on contact H3.

Now assume that a game is being played. It Will be understood that the game, if requiring motors and other apparatus, will be energized from main lead 6. As scoring values are made, wiper support 22 is rotated in an anti-clockwise position as seen in Figure 3. During the course of the game, it is possible that ratchet Wheel 30 may be moved backward in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 3, in the event that some scores are lost. Assuming, however, that scoring values are added in sufficient number, wiper 2| will be moved in a Iclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 4. After one complete turn of ratchet wheel 30, contact leads 9| and 92 will be closed, thus energizing relay |20. If the scoring value is sufliciently high, at least one hundred sixty in the drawing, relay |26 will close. When both relays |20 and |26 are closed, a circuit through relay 3| is established. This circuit short circuits switch ||0 and permits of the operation of coin-controlled means |09 without a coin. Thus, upon the end of a game, coin-controlled means |09 may go through its normal cycle without a com.

In ordel` to apply the invention to a system permitting a larger angular travel of the stepping relay than disclosed in Figures l to 4 inclusive, a modiiied intermittent mechanism, as shown in Figure 5,. may be provided. Thus, ratchet wheel 3Q is provided with pin 65 as before. However, mutilated pinion |50 pivoted at |5I on member II is provided. Mutilated pinion |50 has a number of teeth |52. Cooperating with rnutilated pinion I50 is index disc |54 having index steps |55 cooperating with roller |56 carried by spring |51 suitably mounted on plate H. It is understood that index steps |55 cooperate with teeth |52 so that mutilated pinion |50 may be moved one tooth at a time by pin 96 in a manner generally resembling a Geneva intermittent Lmovement.

Mutilated pinion |50 carries movable switch contact |60 cooperating with a series of fixed contacts IBI, |62, |63 and |64. Thus, for each complete turn of ratchet Wheel 36, movable contact |66 is moved from zero to contact |6| and then to the remaining contacts. The indicating means will, therefore, advance successively to the highest value possible for the system, in this particular case four hundred ninety-nine.

"It is understood that the modification shown in Figure 5 may be applied to Figure 4 so that free games and other features may be provided. In fact, additional means may be provided whereby one free game will result for one score, two free gaines for a higher score, and additional free games for still higher scores.

What is claimed is:

1. ,A switching system for counters and the like comprising a stationary disc having a group of contacts mounted along the arc of a circle and being spaced uniformly from each other except between the end contacts, said end contacts being spaced `a distance substantially greater than the distance between other adjacent contacts, a rotatable wiper cooperating with said contacts, count-indicating circuits having a common return through said Wiper and having individual connections to said contacts so that when a wiper touches a contact a circuit corresponding to a certain :count is closed, a switch disposed in proximity to said disc, said switch having relatively movable contacts, circuit means controlled by said switch, said circuit means including count-indicating means, an arm for operating REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 740,447 Layman et al. Oct. 6, 1903 975,529 Kaisling Nov. 15, 1910 1,913,043 Sanford June 6, 1933 1,932,020 Lazich Oct. 24, 1933 2,099,616 Muck et al. Nov. 16, 1937 

